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It has been a bit quiet around here, so I thought I would share an update on my B24. A lot of travel has impeded quick progress, but in turn allows sections to dry before continuation. I am studying the effects of battle and weather on wartime photographs in order to avoid model box appearance and demonstrate some wartime reality. Sooty engines appear to be the order of the day as opposed to the white staining on RAF bombers. No idea why though I undertstand that the white was something to do with quality (or not) of the fuel at that time. The working area is quite small to avoid getting paint where it is not wanted and being right handed, I find it easier to work from left to right. (The aft fuselage was painted in isolation and is long since dry. This means that some of the problems that are popping up need to wait for solutions. I particular the common tone around the nose wheel that effectively camouflages the wheel out of sight. I am not in the least worried about this but patience is necessary. The soot from the engines will eventually discolour the tail fin/rudders and some battle damage repairs would be nice but little photographic evidence of this particular aircraft exist; not helped by a change of identity during its wartime service.

Here's an update for my Spit WIP. More detail on the spit itself, some work going into the background. An unfortunate blocking in colour near the nose makes it look deeper than it will end up. Lots more to do!

My mach 2 run in the FB 111. Our mission was actually low level penetration but since the aircraft was designed to fly at mach 2, SAC decided that we would do a supersonic run now and then. After just a few supersonic flights one of the birds came home missing part of the vertical stabalizer, so no more surpersonic runs.

I had had plenty of supersonic runs in the B 58 and they weren't all that impressive anyway (from a pilot's stand point).

My mach 2 run in the FB 111. Our mission was actually low level penetration but since the aircraft was designed to fly at mach 2, SAC decided that we would do a supersonic run now and then. After just a few supersonic flights one of the birds came home missing part of the vertical stabalizer, so no more surpersonic runs.

I had had plenty of supersonic runs in the B 58 and they weren't all that impressive anyway (from a pilot's stand point).

This is a 16 by 20 oil pastel.

Chas that B24 is looking great.

gorgeous sky !! sets the subject off superb !!

__________________if at first you don't succede !!!!give skydiving a miss !!

The F1-11 is on my 'to-do-one-day' list and is missed in UK skies. I once worked at an Area Radar ATC Unit that covered East Anglia and we had F1-11 do supersonic runs up the North Sea. England to Scotland in double quick time, but not a patch on an SR71 recovery in terms of speed, or a TR1 recovery in terms of altitude.

The consensus on black v white in regards to engine staining varies according to combustion temp of the negines. RR Merlins (in line water cooled) are very different in design and cooling then an (air cooled) Wasp radial. Merlins stained white due to unburnt constituants of the fuel, and lead in particular. The Wasps on the other hand were/are prone to oil leaks and cracked cylinders, especially with extremes of temp (overnight cold soak v ops on heat). With external storage the aircraft would be effected by all weathers and not pretty, and this is what I strive to replicate, so that nice pristine tail fin is going to get some serious attention over the coming days with the lower half stained by sooty exhaust and second hand oil.

The B24 painting is progressing well Chas .
Hal - good to see the F111 back where it belongs! One day I'll do a low level UK painting of one. Never did get to see one low down but ,being a low level, fan I can well imagine how they looked against some of our stunning locations.